On February 6, 1918, the Representation of the People Act was given the Royal assent, granting the right to vote to women over the age of 30 who owned property.

To celebrate the centenary of the women's suffrage, Cornwall Live and human rights non-governmental organisation Amnesty want to pay tribute to the amazing local women who have channelled the suffragette spirit into helping others.

When Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903 and her fellow campaigners called the suffragettes started a long and ardous struggle to win the vote, they helped set the stage for a century of change.

Since then, women around the world have channelled the suffragette spirit to campaign for progress.

British suffragette leaders Margaret Mackworth and Emmeline Pankhurst during the Equal Political Rights Demonstration in London (Image: MacGregor/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

They have stood up to racism, sexism, homophobia, corruption and much more.

Last century’s suffragettes are today’s women human rights defenders.

Every day they continue to harness their loud and passionate voices to empower communities, protect the vulnerable and create a fairer, more equal world.

In fact, there is probably a brave woman human rights defender living at your doorstep.

This is why Amnesty and Cornwall Live, to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage in Britain, is calling upon readers to nominate the incredible women who are working to make a real difference in their local community today.

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Because it’s not just the likes of the Pankhursts, Rosa Parks, and Chelsea Manning who deserve to be recognised.

Ordinary women from all walks of life – from students to shopkeepers, office workers to OAPs – are doing extraordinary things.

They might have stood up to bullies, helped the homeless, aided refugees, campaigned for better access to healthcare.

They could have challenged bad business practices, worked to protect the environment, prevented forced evictions, and much more.

Do you know anyone in Cornwall who embodies the spirit of the Suffragettes? (Image: Amnesty)

Every time these women have spoken up, set up a petition, sent a letter to their MP, or proudly displayed their placard on the picket line, they’ve taken steps towards making life better for others - to ensure that you and I, as well future generations, enjoy a fairer, more equal world.

The amazing achievements of these often-unsung heroes deserve to be celebrated, and Amnesty wants to feature them on its Suffragette Spirit Map of Britain.

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The interactive map, which will launch on International Women’s day on March 8, will be a symbol of the suffragettes’ legacy – proudly displaying how far we have come over the past century, but also highlighting how much life-changing work is still being carried out today in every corner of the country.

So, over to you: Which 21st century suffragette deserves to be put firmly on the map?

Why is Amnesty running this project with us?

The Suffragette Spirit Map of Britain is a vital part of Amnesty’s global BRAVE campaign to champion and protect human rights defenders around the world.

Every day, ordinary people from all walks of life – from students to farmers, office workers to street sellers – are doing extraordinary things to protect human rights.

However, according to Amnesty, 281 human rights defenders were killed in 2016 and since the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders in 1998, at least 3,500 activists have been killed – an average of 180 deaths a year.

A number of female human rights defenders died last year, including Heather Heyer who was killed in August in Charlottesville while protesting against a white supremacist rally.

Amnesty explained that women in particular face danger because of a so-called ‘double-discrimination’– they would be attacked for both their sex and for being a campaigner.

A group of suffragette women demonstrating with placards in English, French and German condemn the British government in June 1914 after the illegal sedation of a Suffragette (Image: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

What is the Suffragette Spirit Map of Britain?

The interactive map, which will launch on International Women’s day on March 8, will be a symbol of the suffragettes’ legacy – proudly displaying how far we have come over the past century, but also highlighting how much life-changing work is still being carried out today in every corner of the country.